Treatments for Adolescent Depression

Theory and Practice

Edited by Cecilia Essau

Each chapter is written by a leading scientist-practitioner in the treatment of adolescent depression, providing state of the art advice on treating this significant problem

With its strong association with adolescent suicide, there is a great need for evidence based advice on treating depression in adolescence, making this book timely and essential

Provides both the underlying theory and practical advice, showing how and why the interventions work

Treatments for Adolescent Depression

Theory and Practice

Edited by Cecilia Essau

Description

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in adolescence. Up to 20% of adolescents suffer from depression at some point in their lives. As well as being a chronic disorder, associated with significant and persistent impairment in everyday life, there is also a strong association between depression and suicidal behavior, making depression a significant burden for both the individual, and society as a whole. In response to a growing awareness of this problem, various prevention and intervention programs have been developed. In addition, a large number of studies have examined the effectiveness of these interventions for depression.

This timely, comprehensive, and authoritative volume brings together an eminent group of international
experts to provide an overview of the major evidence-based treatments for depression in adolescents. This volume is divided into five sections. The first section presents an introduction to the field of adolescent depression, including classification, epidemiology, comorbidity, course, and risk of depression in adolescents. Sections two to four focus on various psychological and pharmacological interventions for adolescent depression, from various theoretical orientations. Each of the chapters in these sections begins with a description of the theoretical background of the respective intervention programs, the therapeutic goals and methods, and the way in which the interventions are delivered. In addition, studies that examined the effectiveness and their mechanisms of action are also
presented and discussed. Section 5 examines the progress and unresolved issues in the treatment of adolescent depression, providing some recommendations for future studies in this field.

The book will be valuable for advanced students, researchers, and clinicians in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, paediatrics, and counseling.

Treatments for Adolescent Depression

Theory and Practice

Edited by Cecilia Essau

Author Information

Cecilia A. Essau obtained her undergraduate and MA degrees in Psychology from Lakehead University (Canada), her PhD from the University of Konstanz (Germany), and her post-doctoral degree (professorial qualification in Germany) from the University of Bremen (Germany). She held numerous academic positions in Canadian, Austrian, and German universities before joining Roehampton University in 2004 as a Professor of Developmental Psychopathology. She is also the Director of the Centre for Applied Research and Assessment in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing (CARACAW).

With research grants from national and international institutions, her research has focused on understanding the interacting factors that can lead children and adolescents to have serious emotional and
behavioural problems and using this research to (a) enhance the assessment of childhood and adolescent psychopathology and (b) design more effective interventions to prevent and treat such problems.

Treatments for Adolescent Depression

Theory and Practice

Edited by Cecilia Essau

Reviews and Awards

"This authoritative book advances the study of adolescent depression and is a definitive must-have text for mental health professionals and graduate students interested in this dynamic and emerging field. The editor has done a remarkable job of selecting premier experts in the field to write about topics that are vital to our understanding of the seriousness of depression, which is one of the most common health problems in adolescents. No other resource is as up to date and relevant as this one, which will no doubt be the benchmark for future studies and the advancement of the field."--Doody's

"...this volume is quite satisfying, and psychologists are likely to find much to like. It is refreshing to read a resource that discusses psychosocial causes and treatments on par with biological theories and medical approaches. The multidisciplinary team of authors strikes a welcome balance that clearly sends the message that both treatment approaches have their place. The multicultural background is an added plus that allows readers to learn about a variety of approaches used around the world."--PsycCRITIQUES